The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
